Leaping Through the Day

Happy Leap Day! It's like we got an extra day today to accomplish so much! Did you?

I didn't either.

I had a list of things to do. I got as many done as I had the ambition for. And for the record, I had as much ambition as kitty above. Though it looks like she's leaping (for Leap Day) or flying (without a cape), she's really just trying to sun her arms. (My solar sister!)

I didn't get a chance to do that since I was cleaning, running errands to the library and DQ (it was on my list!). I also stopped at the Empty Bowls fundraiser where I apparently won a raffle basket! Not sure what it is until I pick it up tomorrow, but it's probably something I can use. Like chocolate, maybe?

My big accomplishment of the day was reserving our hotels for out in Seattle and Bellingham next weekend. Only 5 days away. That sneaked up fast – even with the extra day in February. I might not want to leap and jump through my Sunday. I've got things to get ready!

No cat naps allowed.

Shooting Hoops

Back-to-back very, very late nights of shooting hoops – last night Nekoosa boys senior night and tonight Lady Royals round 2 of regionals.

Tonight was the sad one. Girls basketball regionals at Wild Rose. We were the underdogs but slightly ahead at halftime, so we could have played the role of the spoiler, upsetting No. 2 in our bracket. But we just couldn't hold on to our slim lead. It was honestly only a margin of 5 points or less the rest of the game, and we ended up falling short by 3, losing 53-50.

It's always so sad when the game is so close the players know a successful basketball attempt here and there could have made the difference. And of course it's sad because, well, girls.

Their raw emotion – especially illustrated on the faces of the seniors – is a tough, big lump in my throat to swallow. They're crying so I'm crying.

Congrats on a good season though, girl.s Only two seniors leaving us and a slew of talented 8th-graders entering high school next season. Keep working hard and you'll get there.

In the meantime, I now have about 6 weeks off from shooting before spring sports season begins. Unlike the Lady Royals, I will not be working hard at anything.

A Slice of Piety

If you pay attention and really listen, you're always going to learn something when you go to church. Or have some message reinforced.

I definitely had that at Ash Wednesday service tonight.

During Lent, there's often talk about what people are giving up. Not as much in my Lutheran circles, but enough. Our gospel tonight from Matthew basically told us to zip our lips and just do it. Don't be pious. Don't be braggarts about our accomplishments. And certainly don't call attention to our suffering. Really, we are so far from legitimate suffering, when you think about it!

Verses 6:16-18: When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

So I don't need to – and shouldn't – call attention to what I am willing to give up for 40 days. Or if I'm not doing anything at all. On the flip side, I'll have to have God help me not judge others for what they are or aren't doing.

During the next 40 days or pretty much all 365 days of the year.

May the next 40 days be blessed, learning experiences for all of us!

Fluffy Tuesday

I don't want to offend Tuesday by calling it fat, but... if that shoe fits and the pants don't...

It was a definitely Fat Tuesday today. I'm not sure what compelled me, but I orchestrated a gathering of sugar and empty calories at the office today. Probably just an excuse to make a trifle!

My Fat Tuesday Trifle! It's like my normal Carousel Cookie trifle, only more fattening.

Behind the outside border of cookies is a layer of cake. This time, the bottom layer isn't just chunks of white cake, it's frosted cake! My teeth hurt just typing this. Then it's a layer of sugar-free (to balance it out) white chocolate pudding colored pink with food coloring. Then a layer of crushed Carousels. And repeat, then top with some whipped cream.

Oh it was good! And there were other yummy treats. I am so full that I don't need to eat for the next month. Probably can't stretch it to 40 days, but 30 days is reasonable. I'm only half joking. I basically went from one sugar high and subsequent crash to the next. It's the Fat Tuesday cycle that will lead to Regretful Wednesday.

I had to laugh at the irony of an email at 3:30 from our health program provider at work. The subject line said, "Robyn, eat your way to better health." I replied: "Sorry, I'll get back to you. Right now I'm eating my way to bigger pants."

SWEET dreams!

Binging Eve

Tonight is Binging Eve for two reasons. One, tomorrow is Binging Day... or Fat Tuesday. And two, it's Binge-Watching Eve because tomorrow is the day of our cable upgrade – when everything currently stored in our DVR queue disappears.

I have to a take a cue from the Frozen movie and let it go. I can't watch everything tonight and still get sleep. But those Hallmark movies! Sniff.

I am going to have to have faith that the Hallmark Channel will hold some sort of Christmas in July week and run all the 2019 Christmas movies again. Then, because it will be too nice outside to binge inside, I can fill up our new DVR storage all over again.

That's my silver lining. I'll take it – especially because the new season of The Voice comes out tonight and I can't DVR it!

Gotta go. Things to see and do!

One Hop, Two Hop, Crop, Crop, Crop

Survived my 16th year at the now 20-year-old Camp Crop-A-Lot. For non-scrapbookers, we call scrap events "crops" because we crop photos, etc. Now you know something new that you didn't know about and still don't care about.

I realize it was the nicest weekend to date to be outside and we were in a beautiful setting at the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt, but... I had things to do!!

And I had permission to sit on my butt all weekend and do it! Nope, didn't pack the special Fitbit charger. Wasn't figuring on moving much over 3 days anyway. (Like my Dr. Seuss pants?)

Besides the cake above and my clothes, we had Dr. Seuss-inspired fun everywhere...

This made me giggle. Because I'm overtired and probably immature at times.

Some of my favorites pages I completed...

Fun play on words.

The magic cut-out powers of a Cricut. Everyone should have one!

When I do a separate vacation scrapbook (usually digitally through Shutterfly), I put notes on the page to "see other scrapbook" for the whole trip. I hope no one calls my bluff because that scrapbook isn't done yet!!

And though I completed my 2014 book this weekend, 2015 got off to a slow start when I stayed up 'til 2 a.m. last night doing this page...

Go big or go home, right?

I got as far as the month of May in 2015 before I came home late this afternoon. Jumped right into a hot epsom salt bath. Scrapbooking is a tough workout on the back, despite what my Fitbit does or doesn't say.

One Advil, Two Advil, sleep, sleep, sleep.

One Crop, Two Crop

I'm off at Camp Crop-A-Lot for my scrapbooking weekend! Every year we have an overall theme because... of course we do! It doesn't mean we do our pages to match the theme – but we certainly dress the part and participate in games and other theme-related shenanigans.

So instead of packing last night, I felt compelled to channel my inner Cindy Lou Who for our Dr. Seuss theme this year. For some treats anyway...

Here we have some Cat in the Hat treats. Oreo bottom topped with red candy wafer melt thingies with frosting in between to kind of hold it all together. For once, it's OK to be crooked. The good doctor wouldn't have it any other way!

And here are some Green Eggs and Ham (well, "bacon," and that counts). Just pretzel sticks topped with a little melted almond bark and a green M&M.

Oh the places we will go when we love to putz! Hopefully I haven't used up all my creative juices so I can churn out some good pages!

One page. Two page. Red page. Blue page...

Dinner and a Show

Last night was the third show in my season ticket package of 6 touring Broadway shows at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton. Since my usual partner was under the weather, my friend Brenda filled in at the last minute to join me.

We ate at The Good Company – so good – and just walked the two blocks from there to the show. Pretty chilly last night so it was a brisk walk!

Since the Miss Saigon musical takes place in Vietnam during the war, the local Vietnam veterans had displays of artifacts there. I like how Appleton does a great job adding some depth to the shows. I mean it's winter. We're all in the lobby area for an hour, so they might as well entertain and educate us.

I had heard of Miss Saigon but didn't know the whole story line. This isn't a real spoiler since it's been around 30 years. Through music, it tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover. There are some funny and entertaining parts, but I'm not gonna deny it was sad. And knowing this happened frequently for real, that's sad, too.

But we both enjoyed it. I rank it behind the first two shows I saw this season, but a Broadway production is always, always worth seeing if you can. The talent is incredible and the changing set and scenery are amazing to watch.

Worth getting home at midnight and trying to recover all day at work! Good thing today was my "Friday."

How We Roll

This cartoon always makes me laugh. It's just literally what we moms (and dads) go through with teenagers and beyond. Not that I haven't always deserved it.

This gem came up in my Facebook memories today...

It you can't read the text, my post from 6 years ago today said:

Told Carter to ride the bus home today. Then he calls after school and reminds me there is NO BUS today because public schools weren't in session. ... Which we knew because he needed a ride TO school. Duh me. I guess I do deserve his eye rolls once in a while! (But I'm only admitting that ONCE.)

Some day when our children have their first blonde moment, make that first mistake ever, they'll realize we just try to do our best! I would tell you parents of teens that this magically happens when they go away to college and finally appreciate you. But that would by lying. I mean some do, but I was probably 30 when I finally wizened up that way.

And side note: Even with kids out of the house, hubbies can be pretty talented eye-rollers, too.

Can't wait to read my Facebook "memories" 6 years from now when I hopefully can laugh all my blonde-turned-senior moments! I don't doubt I'll still be the first one to laugh at my own jokes. And honestly won't mind it if I'm lucky enough to have all my eye-rollers still at my side!

Ahhh, memories...

Move Over, Goldilocks

After going straight to my hair artist after work to turn my glitter-locks into goldi-locks, I came home and the story continued.

I knew hubby was at bowling and didn't pay attention to where the princess was. Until I finished nuking my dinner (not porridge) and was ready to sit down.

"Somebody's been sitting in my chair..."

"And she's still there!"

That silly girl! She loves the soft blanket that usually goes over me and likes to snuggle up to my velvety yarn. She looks to comfy to disturb so I guess I'll sit in Jim's chair, which has magical powers to force me to sit in it even if there's nothing on TV and may prompt snoring.

Or cat naps, like mine does.

Pretty sure I'll find something on TV. I'm still working through my DVR'd Hallmark movies. One week to go before they disappear with our cable upgrade. This deadline just got real, folks.

Gotta go.

Day of Restlessness

This one is called "Doing Sunday Right." I mean really, if it's supposed to be a day of rest, there's no better mentor than a cat! She loves laying in the sun and trying to get an even tan on all four legs!

And this one is called "When Spring is Just Out of Reach." Or, in my case, "When Motivation is Just Out of Reach."

Suffering from that but even though I sat around watching the last episodes of Virgin River on Netflix (I should have stretched it out) and went grocery shopping, I still got plenty done. Apparently, the trick is to go to 8 a.m. church and you've got the whole day ahead of you.

I am as organized as I can be and all packed up and ready to go to Camp Crop-A-Lot. T minus 4 days. I also got rid of three bags of Christmas decoration donations for Goodwill and a bag of garbage. I am done looking through the Christmas stuff in the basement for now, but the closet under the stairs is clean and much more organized. I still have a shelf around the ceiling I didn't get to, but that will come.

And not this week. Pretty full schedule outside of work – another reason I had to get camp stuff set.

Glad a day of rest turned into a bit of restlessness and productivity. Please don't expect me to keep that streak alive.

Wrestling Up Some Ice Cream

My computer is so slow tonight so I'll keep this brief and to the point...

Had a busy day starting with book club, then shooting regional wrestling over in Waupaca. Don't you just love that t-shirt? Our Assumption wrestler in contention took third so he won't be moving onto sectionals. The combined Nekoosa-Assumption is sending four on, though, so that was exciting!

On the way home – yes, it was right on the way – had to stop at King Cone, which opened yesterday.

The king has come out of hibernation! And so has the  Blueberry, "Yes, Please," Cake ice cream. Oooh, so good!

Got home, sorted through hundreds of photos and now the weekend is half over. Dang.

Gonna have to "wrestle" up some productivity tomorrow!

Very Cold Hands, Warm Heart

Thank goodness we had the warm fuzzies of Cupid Eve to carry us through Valentine's Day. It was 21 below zero on my morning commute. Thankfully, no wind so it felt warmer than that.

Right.

One of those days where it hurts to breathe. Still, I was all set to go to opening day of King Cone in Plover. However, since I had to got straight from work to chiropractor without passing go and without collecting 200 calories, I'll have to wait another day.

Still, I do have a little pint of peanut butter flavored Halo ice cream warming up a touch as I type. Since we already celebrated Valentine's Day, I have not guilt about snuggling up with my pint and watching some of those Hallmark movies that I must see before they're gone!

Since our night is free, I could do some work around the house or something. But it is a holiday, after all. I have a Hallmark card to prove it!

Hope you have someone or some thing to snuggle with tonight! Happy Valentine's Day!

Cupid Eve

I don't think we intentionally planned to celebrate Valentine's Day a day early, but we did. Maybe it had to do with waking up to below zero temps and some 20 or so below zero windchills. We needed some love to warm our hearts – and hands.

It started with a surprise delivery at work. A dozen beautiful red roses! The card from hubby said this way I could enjoy the flowers at work for two days instead of one. Plus it did (or should have) inspired the guys in the office to take action for their own valentines.

Chalk one up for Cupid Eve!

Got home and we had our Valentine's Dinner, too!

Thank you, Papa Murphy's! You know the way to a valentine's heart is through their stomach. Both of our stomachs. Yum!

I hope these warm fuzzies do the trick for the next 24 hour because we're dipping down to minus 13 degrees or so. And who knows what windchill.

Good thing I've got my valentine – and my electric mattress pad – to see me through!

Well Shake My Shamrocks

Some companies can save you 15 percent on car insurance. Kwik Trip, though, can save you nearly 50 percent on calories when you choose their mint-flavored milk over McD's Shamrock Shake.

Thank you, KT!

Grabbed this on my way home from Wausau tonight when I wisely decided to gas up instead of waiting for subzero temps in the morning. It is only 350 calories (ha) compared to 680 calories for a Shamrock Shake of the same size.

Does it taste as good?

While it does bill itself as a "Pint o' Gold," it doesn't quite reach that ranking for me. Tastes like a completely melted Shamrock Shake would. So not too bad. But it's missing some secret ingredient that must be in those extra 330 calories.

Oh... that's right. Sugar! A non-Keto friendly shake has 111 carbs (82 grams sugar) versus this milk from a green cow, which has 37 carbs (34 grams sugar).

Either way, it's really not that healthy for me. But this mint freak chose the lesser of two evils.

Thanks for visiting Robyn's Justification Station. See you next time!

Swept Up In The Hype

OK, I admit I got swept up (pun very intended) in the hype around Monday's broomstick challenge. I happened to stumble upon it during Hallmark movie number two when I was scrolling through social media.

What people were saying is that due to yesterday's gravitational pull of the Earth or something terribly scientific, you could stand your broom up and it would stand on its own ala Disney's Fantasia movie.

Of course I tried it!

When it worked, I was so excited (not sure why) that I quickly took a video and sent it to Jim at bowling. He suspected I'm a witch and his teammates suggested he might not want to come home.

It was such a freaky thing that of course I had to tell everyone about it! Then came the naysayers...

In my defense, I can't call it a "hoax" when it actually worked. But so-called experts have confirmed you can do this any day, not just a special moon phase or something. The center of gravity makes it happen. They're right. I tried it again tonight and it worked.

For the record, I do use my broom occasionally. Just never thought to stand it up on its own. Who knew?

The good news is that I am not witch. Heck, if I did have special powers, I would have made the broom sweep the floor!

In fact, Jim was incredulous that I was just doing this because of some weird challenge on social media. "So you didn't actually have the broom out to do any cleaning?"

Well, no silly. Where's the fun in that?

Oh No Ho Ho

No time to blog tonight. I have Hallmark emergency. Yes, it is a thing!

We got good news and bad news from our cable provider today. The good news is that they're upgrading our cable experience in two weeks. The bad news is that when they do, the reset will erase all of our DVR'd content.

And by content, I mostly mean Hallmark Christmas movies! And Lifetime ones, too!

I am under a serious deadline here, folks. Thankfully, some of the programming belongs to hubby. But you all know the bulk of it is tied to this Christmas movie maniac.

On a positive note, I'm really getting into the holiday spirit. Who cares if the nearest holiday is Valentine's Day? The story lines probably wouldn't change much.

OK, gotta get back to it. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines!

Forecast :: The Color Purple

Since it's Oscar night, let's give a shout out to The Color Purple... nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and two Best Supporting Actresses. It failed to win any of them. That reminds me of a football team that has gone to 4 Super Bowls and failed to win any of them.

That's not a good segue when I'm trying to boast about the color purple...

If you recall, the Wisconsin Rapids area was in the "purple area" on the forecast map – signifying 7-12 inches of snow possible. It came down fast as predicted – an inch an hour at least.

Mr. Snowblower Man said we got at least 7 inches but definitely not a foot. Still, roads were and still are crazy hazardous.

At one point we were in the heart of the "STAY HOME" area! Plow still hasn't gone through, so we will stay home. And rejoice that the color purple finally found its way into the hearts – and driveways – of central Wisconsin!

What wonder-SKOL weather!

A Picture's Worth a Thousand...

They say a picture's worth a thousand words. For me, though, a day (my Saturday) is worth a thousand pictures. Not kidding.

Between reviewing, editing, and posting hockey and basketball pictures online and my Camp Crop-A-Lot prep, we're seriously talking thousands of images. My eyes are tired.

Here's basically a year's worth of photos to complete June through December of my 2014 scrapbook and for January through July 2015 – not that I will get that far in my 2015 book, but it's best to be prepared.

Here's another angle...

This does not mean I'm ready for camp in two weeks. Just my photos are organized in order for pages. Now I have to do the creative thinking part and put them in folders with matching scrapbook paper or any memorabilia. That takes a longgggg time but makes work go so smoothly once I get to camp.

Thankfully we're predicted to get 7-12 inches of snow tomorrow so maybe I can work on that on my "snow day."

Maybe. The snow may put me in the mood to sip hot chocolate and watch some of the DVR'd Hallmark Christmas movies I haven't gotten to yet. I know. Feel free to be jealous of me and my dream life!

Puck Stops Here

Although I was at a UW Madison ice rink tonight – the one typically used as home ice for Badger women – I wasn't watching Badgers or women. It just happened to be the setting of a high school game. And I was there on assignment.

I'm friends with this player's grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins. His dad happens to work for the same company as me – though I just met him in person for the first time tonight. And #2 here plays for Oregon High School, the town south of Madison where my high school BFF and her husband live.

Confused yet? It's surprising how often my worlds collide!

As a favor to the grandparents, I was shooting pictures and will make a poster, similar to what they had done for their other grandchildren. It was an interesting game to watch since the arena is really nice and their opponents – Madison Edgewood – were really good. Madison ended up winning 8-2, but not before our #2 scored a goal.

That was exciting!

Thankfully, the 2-hour drive home was not exciting. No deer. No crazy drivers. No ice or slush. Some snow coming down, but just the last 10 miles or so.

Just glad to get home before midnight so I didn't turn into a pumpkin – or zamboni zuccini or something! Looking forward to checking out my hundreds of photos tomorrow. Sweet dreams!

Double Take

You may have to do a double-take with this photo. If you look closely, it almost looks like these icicles are the equivalent of yellow snow. Not sure if I can un-see that now!

I guess in this case, we blame the squirrels, eh? Quite certain none of the neighbors dogs or cats are climbing trees. I know our cat probably hung out with human all day or slept on his end of the recliner whether he was there or not.

Tonight I got my turn with our human. Hubby and I went to the girls basketball game at Assumption. It was a double-take for one of our seniors. On Tuesday night, she'd hoped to reach her 1,000th point scored in her basketball career. But, the Royals were matched up against a very tough defense. So she fell short of her 13 points needed.

This evening, she only needed 5 against Athens, which has a slightly worse record than the Royals but not by much. Thankfully, Miss Maddy scored here 5th point – and 1,000th – in the first half so I could put down the camera and enjoy the second half. Congrats!

It was fun to see her score several more baskets after that – and the team win. And to see her fan support in the student section!

It made for a pretty nice date night, if I do say so myself. It won't fly on Valentines' Day, but a random Thursday night in the stands still works.

Domestic Diva

The princess was so happy to have her human back tonight that she helped me clean! And by clean, I mean whip her tail across my computer screen, dusting it off while she shed hair on my computer desk and keyboard.

Still, I won't be mad.

Somehow during this 3 days away from Jim, she coped with her separation anxiety like a royal. The little diva did not puke anywhere and did not poop anywhere outside her litter box. Seriously, the first time ever.

I can't figure out if this is a good sign or not. What if she has Diva Dementia and forgot to miss him? What if they were texting back and forth while I was at work? What if she hid piles of "something" that I'll discover some day soon?

As guess as long as she's showing her domestic side and helping with the chores, I don't care.

Here kitty, kitty! Let's see how that tail brushes the toilet!

Off-Season Shenanigans

Most Packers fans will probably remember about five seasons back when Aaron Rodgers had injured his calf during a game against Detroit. And, before returning to the field, tugged on the beard of some guy on the sidelines – seemingly for good luck.

It wasn't the first time he'd done that, nor the last.

Turns out the small world that is MY world, that guy is from Wausau and his line of work that placed him on the Green Bay sidelines at the right time, is the same line of work that brought Mr. Lucky Beard Guy to our office during the past month.

Today, since he was working in our department, we befriended him and warned him there may be some selfie requests and whatever.

When he found out I was a Vikings fan, he gave me the sign of the cross to ward off evil. Then I said, "Don't worry, I won't touch you!" I just want a photo pretending to.

I had to laugh because my hand was closer to the camera so it looks like a huge hand trying to tug at the beard of a leprechaun-like figure!

He was fun and let me assure you, I didn't touch him! So don't blame me if someone or something jinxed his Green and Gold superpowers. Not that I won't be seeing him at work anymore. He'll still be around for a project. We'll see if my shenanigans turn into something evil–or just a wee-bit weird!

Punxutawney :: Fake News Y'all

The truth of Groundhog Day forecasts has been revealed. And you're not gonna like it. You also are not gonna be surprised.

Since we are trained in the Arctic Tundra to monitor forecasts daily – at a minimum – we knew it was going to chill out in the next few days. We definitely knew better than to believe a hibernating rodent who probably wasn't awake enough to know which end was up.

What I didn't know. Is that Texas isn't faring much better. Why do we care? You probably don't. I do because hubby is in Dallas the next few days for work and I thought maybe he'd escape winter. He is. Kind of. But look how cold it's going to get the next few nights...

Cool and rainy. At least I don't have to worry about being jealous. And, since the precipitation is southbound, I don't have to worry about shoveling out while he's gone either. Everybody wins.

So I guess I'll just sit back and relax. If you count an hour-long deep-tissue massage after work relaxing. Pfft. And if you call the hot steamy epsom salt bath running right now relaxing. Right. We'll see. And watching Virgin River on Netflix while crocheting? Uff da. How much stress can I handle?!

My 66 degrees should feel sorry for ME.

Have a great week, y'all!

Groundhog Meltdown

If we're going to re-live Groundhog Day like the movie, I'm OK with that. Look at our unseasonably warm AND SUNNY day we had in central Wisconsin. We set a record of 49! It was almost enough to motivate me to open the windows and do spring cleaning! I said almost.

The great Groundhog Meltdown of 2020 began in earnest, though. There were reflections on Lake Austin by early afternoon. And thanks the to the Super Bowl and its related party, I didn't get out and walk much. But I did snag a spot in a short car wash line right before kickoff!

Since both football teams are red teams, I finally debuted my Christmas present – that arrived a few weeks ago. It's the 2019 Wisconsin 8-Man Football State Champions jacket for my one and only Luck Cardinals. Nice, huh? Jim worked secretly through my sister Rachel to get that purchased for me. Thanks!

We partied at our friend Chet's house. And by party, I mean ate lunch there at 2 p.m. (a crockpot palooza), Jim shook dice for some 6 hours while I came home and sipped tea and crocheted while watching the first half, shook my hips for the halftime (I'll feel that tomorrow), and went back to the party for the second half – in case I needed to collect any money.

I didn't.

At least I enjoyed some good commercials and a great game that held the interest of non-fans until the end.

Of course, if we are going to re-live Groundhog Day, I'd put my name in a different spot on those boards. And probably not make as many treats. Hopefully my co-workers have given up on their New Year's resolutions by now and will eat them up tomorrow!

If February 3rd comes, that is. Happy Groundhog Day!